German War Graves Commission
The Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge e. V. is a humanitarian organisation - a charitable organisation acting on behalf of the Federal Government - whose task is to register, maintain and care for the graves of German war dead abroad.
Today, the association has 1.3 million members and donors. It finances its work through their contributions and donations and through the revenues from annual household and street collections. The federal government helps where the Volksbund's own income is insufficient.
Today, the association has 1.3 million members and donors. It finances its work through their contributions and donations and through the revenues from annual household and street collections. The federal government helps where the Volksbund’s own income is insufficient.
It was not until 1946 that the Volksbund was able to resume its work. In a very short time it was successful in establishing more than 400 war cemeteries in Germany. In 1954, Konrad Adenauer, the German chancellor, commissioned the Volksbund with the task of searching for, securing and caring for German military cemeteries abroad.
The Volksbund carries out its work in Europe an North Africa in the framework of bilateral agreements. It now looks after about 830 military cemeteries in 44 countries with 10,500 honorary and 522 full-time employees.
After the political upheaval in eastern Europe the Volksbund was able to start its work in the countries in the former eastern bloc as well, in which nearly three million German soldiers were killed in World War II, nearly twice as many the numbers buried in military cemeteries in western Europe.
In establishing and maintaining these graves the aim of the Volksbund is to keep the memory of the war dead alive. The living are to be reminded of the past when they see these huge cemeteries and confronted with the consequences of war and violence.
Please visit the Volksbund in the Internet